Tyre tread wear indicators

[doubleboost]

It is common practice to put snow (winter) tyres on to the drive axle only
This can lead to some interesting handling

 

[Bill Edwards]

I know this is the stated case.
As a bald tyre grips better than a treaded one on dry tarmac, tread doesn't really make any difference until the road is wet.

I expect the advice is relying on tyres not being bald, and also that as some people may not be very good at altering their speed/driving style when it is wet that it is best to aim for having the most tread on the rears, this way when someone doesn't slow on a bend on a rainy day they'll have a better chance of avoiding oversteer.

I do see the point in it for the typical driver - how many behind the wheel do you feel can safely handle anything, never mind oversteer?

 

[Bill Edwards]

It is common practice to put snow (winter) tyres on to the drive axle only
This can lead to some interesting handling

Naturally, against advice of course!
I have done the same myself though, but with RWD. The back end will stay in check better, I have better traction going up hills and with ABS and ESP they still contribute to braking and to a degree understeer. But on a FWD car they'll be ideal for going, steering and stopping, but leaving the back end to be as stable as a dogs tail when it's happy!

 

[normspanners]

Just to put people straight a tyre with more tread gets hotter than one with less tread on a dry tarmac situation, because as the tread moves and squirms more the rubber gets hotter.
Tyres with less tread grip better and stop better, on dry or damp tarmac that is a fact, born out by major tyre manufacturers 'shaving' tyres ie taking tread OFF a standard road tyre usually down to 2mm to give better traction and handling for competition uses where they have to use a 'control ' standard road tyre that everyone in that championship has to use. where a tyre with low tread falls down is when the road has standing water.
I realize that this not good in a road situation where you have varying conditions and I would MUCH prefer to have new, rather than worn tyres on my vehicle.
But you cannot make a statement that a new tyre with loads of tread has more grip in all conditions because it in reality it hasnt.
On a hot summer day a tyre with minimal tread depth has more grip with the road.

http://www.pakwheels...rt-tire-shaving

The shaving process cuts the tread from the tyre to provide a more stable tread base for increased performance on track. Traditionally tyres were buffed, but this introduced unwanted heat into the tyre carcass - so instead, we cut the tyres preventing heat build up which can compromise performance. Reducing tread depth in this way alleviates the tread blocks from 'squirming' under heavy cornering - thus giving better grip and feedback in dry conditions.

 

[octo0072000]

Just to put people straight a tyre with more tread gets hotter than one with less tread on a dry tarmac situation, because as the tread moves and squirms more the rubber gets hotter.
Tyres with less tread grip better and stop better, on dry or damp tarmac that is a fact, born out by major tyre manufacturers 'shaving' tyres ie taking tread OFF a standard road tyre usually down to 2mm to give better traction and handling for competition uses where they have to use a 'control ' standard road tyre that everyone in that championship has to use. where a tyre with low tread falls down is when the road has standing water.
I realize that this not good in a road situation where you have varying conditions and I would MUCH prefer to have new, rather than worn tyres on my vehicle.
But you cannot make a statement that a new tyre with loads of tread has more grip in all conditions because it in reality it hasnt.
On a hot summer day a tyre with minimal tread depth has more grip with the road.

http://www.pakwheels...rt-tire-shaving

Well said that Man

 

[doubleboost]

I am in total agreement
Great for track day cars
Try telling a court this after you have a fatal with tyres just above or on the legal limit
I was a recovery driver for several years , sadly I have attended many fatal "accidents"
The investigating team go straight for the tyres
I have seen them amazed at what would be a MOT pass & advise
This is a "no brainer"
Wear markers 2mm
Legal limit 1.6 mm
Once you get below 3 mm the tyre is well past its best

 

[Rocketman]

Just to put people straight a tyre with more tread gets hotter than one with less tread on a dry tarmac situation, because as the tread moves and squirms more the rubber gets hotter.
Tyres with less tread grip better and stop better, on dry or damp tarmac that is a fact, born out by major tyre manufacturers 'shaving' tyres ie taking tread OFF a standard road tyre usually down to 2mm to give better traction and handling for competition uses where they have to use a 'control ' standard road tyre that everyone in that championship has to use. where a tyre with low tread falls down is when the road has standing water.
I realize that this not good in a road situation where you have varying conditions and I would MUCH prefer to have new, rather than worn tyres on my vehicle.
But you cannot make a statement that a new tyre with loads of tread has more grip in all conditions because it in reality it hasnt.
On a hot summer day a tyre with minimal tread depth has more grip with the road.

http://www.pakwheels...rt-tire-shaving

Hold on you are moving the goal posts from bald to a tread tyre within it's designed working limits.

The thread may be one compound while the main carcass could be a different compound.

 

[wookie]

at the moment my car is a nightmare on wet roads. the tyre tread seems to have dropped off very rapidly over the last 600 miles, it understeers a bit now where as it used to grip really well. they were only cheap tyres but still annoyed that they have worn to the limit after 5k miles, my father bought a set of similarly priced tyres for his jag about 9k miles ago and they still have over 2mm on the front

Crikey ! only 5k
I used to only get about 6 to 7k out of a set of grippy but very soft compound Yokohamas on the front of my Vw Caddy Pickup sport, but it was fitted with a tuned up GTI engine and I drove it like a looney

 

[normspanners]

You have to go well below the tread depth before the compound changes, I haven't changed a thing, all i have stated is the fact that a new standard tyre has less grip in the dry than a worn one. I did not say it was safer overall
that is one reason why motorcycle tyres have very little tread pattern, and if you get a new fully treaded old style bike tyre they feel awful until worn down because of the squirming.
And no matter what anyone says, I have and always will fit my best treaded tyres up front it suits my driving and believe me I do not hang about.
I have always found oversteer preferable to understeer especially in bad conditions in any vehicle.